Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Have you ever thought about what exactly this day does mean?  Or what it actually means to you personally?  Do you think it affects you?  Well, for me and my family, it does.  Quite a bit actually.  Obviously for the better.  Let's chat a bit.

Can you imagine it?  I know there are movies and people that have experienced some serious racism, but for the white folk out there, can you even imagine it?  What blows my mind is that people thought it was okay!  People thought it was okay to act like they were better than someone else because of their skin color.  People thought it was okay to think that blacks were less than them, even less than human.  It blows.my.mind.  And the innocent 'let's all be happy' girl in me wants to act like people don't think that anymore.  Like we've moved on.  Or if I just turn my head, will it all go away?

But I can't turn my head.  I am married to black man who has experienced for himself first hand some of this ugliness that I speak of.  I actually have witnessed it a bit as well.  Nothing with calling names or abuse or anything as blatant as that, because let's be honest, who in their right mind would try to beat up my husband? :)  But with remarks and statements, it makes me really sad.

I do think, however, we have come a long way.  We don't experience as much racism as we would have maybe 20 or 50 years ago.  We are able to be happily married without too much from other people. (Our college dating story on the other hand... oohhheeee the racism!)  I think the biggest problem is ignorance.  People don't know how to act around my husband because he's different.  He's big and black and has an accent.  People like me are drawn to it, but there are people who are just plain scared of it.

But then, I have to think about my beautiful, mixed babies in this world.  How will people view them?  Honestly, I don't care if people see them as black or white or mixed or just plain gorgeous.  I care about who they are as men.  I also care about how people treat them.  One of my biggest worries when we move back to the states is that people won't know how to treat them.  They are interracial.  They are intercultural.  They speak another language.  They are huge.  They look different.  I hope and pray that the transition is easy and that the parents where we live are bringing up their kids to be loving and accepting to different.  To embrace them.

But my number one thing I want my boys to know if this doesn't happen.  It is OK.  Daddy loves you. Mommy loves you.  Most importantly, God loves you.  You do not, let me repeat, do not need these people's acceptance to know that you are loved.

So if Martin Luther King Jr. hadn't stood up for what he believed in, for what is right, would we be where we are?  Would I have married my husband?  Would I have my beautiful and oh-so-precious babies?  Praise the Lord I don't have to think about those scenarios because he did.  The course of history was changed for the better and I pray that it only continues to do so.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Meet Me!

Hello lovelies!!  What a beautiful day to meet new people!  I am so glad that you have chosen to stop by.  Since we haven't met, let me introduce myself...  If you're an old reader, LOVE YOU!  And thank you for continuing to read!!

Well, first of all, you might be wondering what the heck Ma Nouvelle Mode means.  It means 'My New Style' in French.  Now you might be wondering 'why French?' Well, it just so happens that me, my husband and littles live in France!  Imagine that!  My husband plays basketball here and so we follow him around enjoying the change of scenery and learning a new language and culture.  It is a super fun, yet sometimes difficult life (like most lives, I presume!).

I have a husband and two little guys.  So as you can imagine, it can be hard to stay feminine.  I started this blog as my creative, feminine outlet.  I think I owe it to my husband to take care of myself and continue to look nice for him.  Besides, he's hot, I gotta try to keep up!  It has been a very fun journey so far and my absolute favorite thing about blogging has been the friends I have made doing it.  As you can imagine, traveling the world it is hard to maintain friendships.  Well, enter the internet et voila!  Friends you just take with you!

 If you stop by my place you can find a lot of hair tutorials and more to come.  Some makeup tutorials like a really easy but very smokey eye.  Also some fashion and outfit posts. Also some awesome giveaways from sponsors or just things I wanted to giveaway. And a little bit of our travels thrown in there too!

my fake short hair tutorial found here

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love meeting new friends!  Make sure you leave a note so I can visit you as well!

I hope it's the jet lag...

Well, as you know, we're here... I am having a little bit of a tough time adjusting.  Because although I put on a happy face and act like this is the coolest adventure ever, it's still hard.  

Sometimes I just want normal.  Sometimes I just want to be able to speak English.  Sometimes I just want a girlfriend to talk to.

I love my husband and all but he is a man.  Need I say more?   He doesn't always understand the craziness that goes on in my head.  

And poor guy, he tries to relate.  He tries to help.  But he just doesn't understand.

I am tired.  I don't want to leave the house.  I don't feel like talking to people because I don't want to speak French.  

It is 2:00 in the afternoon and I haven't brushed my teeth or changed out of my pajamas.  

Pathetic much?  Maybe a little.  

I am hoping that it is all just being tired.  That I will get that adventurous spirit back again.  

In the meantime, I am sharing some pictures from a recent family photo shoot we did because they are pretty. And my kids are cute.

No longer the victim

That's it.  I'm done.  I am no longer playing victim to 'that's not my gift' line.

I do believe that people are blessed with particular talents.  I am not exactly sure of my greatest talents, or where God is able to use me best, but I am most certain of talents that just aren't in the genes, ya know?

Source: permanentsunshine.tumblr.com via Natalia on Pinterest

For example, I am not an organized person.  I see a messy house or room and get overwhelmed.  My sister-in-law however, would get excited and immediately think thousands of thoughts of beautiful files and neat shelves would be dancing through her head.  That's her gift.  And trust me, she is good at it.

I struggles to maintain organization in my life (granted we live between 2 countries).  I don't have a system of cleaning the house.  Unless you call clean-it-when-it's-disgusting a system.  And I am not too great at organizing my blog either.

And frankly I am sick of it.

Source: indie-handmade.blogspot.com via Natalia on Pinterest

I am tired of copping out with the 'it's not my gift' line.  I mean seriously.  When someone is overweight and wants to be thinner, can they be?  Of course.  Can a flaky person become more consistent?  Yes.  Can a lazy person become more energized?  Most definitely!! They all have to do the same thing.

Make a choice.

Make a conscious effort to choose the healthier option or hit the gym.  They choose to make it to the appointment they don't want to go to.  They choose to get off the couch and do something productive.  It's a choice.

Source: letsdriftaway.tumblr.com via Natalia on Pinterest

So I am here, with my blog friends as my witnesses, I am choosing to be better.  I am choosing to seek help from those who have this gift and be more organized.  I am going to make choices to help me be more organized.

Phew!  Thank you for listening!!  So, who's with me??  I know I am not the only one who struggles with something like this.  So what is it?  Are you going to make a choice today to be better?  I hope so!  Let's do it together!!

A day in Our Life

Gussy Sews is having a link up party today and I thought it would be fun to join.  It is a day in our life.  Now we don't have a very exciting life or anything, just lots of playing, but I thought I would link up anyway.

I didn't have a picture of me just waking up, although you have seen me with no makeup before.  One of the first things I do is make breakfast.  If I am being a good girl, I get up early before my boys and do some devotions and read a little, but unfortunately lately the boys are my alarm clock.  Something I really need to work on!

My husband eats 8 to 12 pancakes, 3 eggs with a slice of meat.  And the boys are miniature daddy's and can pull their weight in the eating department.  Needless to say, if I don't feed them well in the mornings, it's gonna be a long day...

After breakfast, we usually go outside and play.  I try to keep my kids outside as much as possible because when we are in France the weather doesn't stay as beautiful all year round like Southern California.  So Eli likes to mow the lawn...

They like to play in boxes...

They like to play basketball with daddy.

And they definitely like to swim.  Sometimes we swim all day.  Sometimes we'll be swimming at 8:00 at night.  They are little fish, and I love it.  Here is Tae practicing his umping off the rocks.  He likes to be creative with his karate moves.

Then when we wind down at the end of the day, maybe watch a little Wipeout (Tae loves that show), maybe ride bikes, we go upstairs, take a bath, read a book, maybe sing a song and go to bed.  I try to put my kids to bed a little earlier than most, like 8:00 or 8:30 depending on the night, because ya know, momma needs some time too.  But it's summer, so I'm not that strict about it. 

And that is it!  I have been loving every minute of summer and doing all kinds of fun stuff to keep the kids {and me} busy and happy!  What does your day look like?

I am linking up with Gussy Sews.

Don't forget the photo contest tomorrow! I can't wait to see all your summer photos!!

7 Reasons I Enjoy Living Between 3 Countries

So today I was visiting my grandparents and we were talking about the next basketball season for Lavar.  Right now there are two main teams in two completely different locations who are interested in having him play for them.  Here is how our conversation went:

Me:  "There are two teams, one is where we were this year and the other is up north between Paris and Belgium."

Grandma:  "oh wow, so which do you prefer?  You probably want to stay in the same city."

Me: "Well, I don't know, I love the adventure of it all!"

Grandma laughs: "oh well, I am going to stop feeling sorry for you then!"

Yes Grandma, you can stop feeling sorry for me.  I love our life.  Yes, there are parts that are just plain hard.  But most of it is great.  And that is what I choose to focus on.  Here are my top reasons I love our crazy life.

1.) There is so much to see!!  I want to travel the world and living in France puts a lot of it at our fingertips.

2.)  I have always wanted to learn another language.  I can now say, after this last year, I am conversational in French.  Whooo hooo!  (not fluent, conversational. There is a difference)

3.)  My kids are able to see so many other cultures.  I really think it widens their world view.

4.)  My kids will be bilingual.  'Nuf said.

5.)  It really bonds our family.  Because when we are out there, it is just us.  No help, no grandparents, we just gotta make it work.  (yes sometimes this falls into the bummer category, but it makes us stronger!)

6.)  I love adventure.  I love new things.  I love different.  I love that we don't fit into any molds.  This is just part of us 'not fitting.'

7.)  Americans are so narrow minded!  Don't get me wrong, I love America.  I want to be here when we are done.  But so many people have never left the country and cannot understand that something in a different culture might be good if not better sometimes.  Imagine that!

So there ya go.  If you read my blog and were thinking 'I am so sorry for her, she leads such a crazy life!'  Don't!  I love my life!  As it is not always easy, I choose to appreciate and enjoy the parts that are wonderful.  Because someday when we have a house and live in the same spot for years and years and only speak English, I will enjoy that, then.  But for now, this is where I need to be.

Awards!!

Hello all!  Happy Thursday.  I am taking a quick break from packing our life into boxes to come say hi!

 

First off, I am guest posting over here about Paris, France.  I would love it if you stopped by!

 

And because I have been super busy packing, (no really I have been, promise!)  I have fallen a little behind!  I have recently recieved a few awards from a few fabulous ladies and I haven't had a chance to sit down and say thanks!!  So Thanks!!  I was awarded the Stylish Blogger award by Michelle at The Vintage Apple.

I was awarded the Versatile Blogger award by Lady Crafter.

And last but most certainly not least, I was awarded the Kreativ Blogger award by Michelle at the Vintage Apple and Andrea at Charcoal and Crayons!!

Phew, thanks so much ladies!!  I think I am supposed to say a few things about myself and then award it to some other wonderful ladies.  So here are a few things that you might not know about me.

1.) I used to have super blonde hair in high school.  Like really blonde.  It really doesn't look that great on me though.

2.) I love love love to water ski.  I learned when I was 3 or 4 and was single skiing when I was 5 or 6.  I don't do it that much anymore though.

3.) My most favorite vacations is a spending a week at Lake Mead, Nevada.  Where it is always in triple digits, ridiculous heat, and we lived in our swim suits and skied and tubed all day.

4.) My most favorite trip that we still do is Yosemite.  I love camping and my boys love to be outside.  They can get as dirty as they want, and I don't care.  Just throw 'em in the river and we are good to go!

5.) If I could live off of french fries and doughnuts and still be healthy, I would.  Every.Single.Day. I would eat them.

6.)  My son Tae's estimate of how tall he is going to be (at two years old they can get a kinda acurate estimate) is 6'10" give or take a few inches.  So remember the name SIMMONS in 16 years or so when he is getting drafted to the NBA.  (not really about me, but sort of) Oh and my second son is bigger.  Yikes.

7.) I speak two languages! whoop whoop!

8.) I met my husband when I was 17 but don't remember. So I officially remember when I was 18.

9.) Both of our boys were not planned.  But hey, it has worked out for us so far!

10.) I am a middle child and all that comes with being a middle child. 

Okay, I think 10 things will do! 

Now I must award these award to people.  Oh geez, I have so many favorites out there, do I really have to?  How about one for each award? 

And the Kreativ Award goes to.....

Vintage Gwen!  Because she is so stinkin' creative!

And the Stylish Award goes to......

A Suitcase and Stilettos!  Because she is so stylish and awesome!

And the Verstile Blogger Award goes to...

Living in France!  Because she is completely awesome and always makes me laugh!

Go check out these awesome bloggers and show some love.  And don't forget to check out a trip to Paris here.

And a super great day!  I am off to pack some more.  Boo.  5 more days!

We Want to Know!

Hello again everyone!

I know second post of the day.  But I saw this and had to participate!  So don't judge.  Read on.  Thanks! :)

Oh and if you haven't, enter the GIVEAWAY I have going on right now!!!!!!  Ends tomorrow.  Okay, now read on.
I saw this over at Living in France (WARNING: she doesn't actually live in France!) and thought it looked really fun and that I would try it!  It is hosted by Impulsive Addict, Janette, Mamarazzi and Seriously Shawn.  Check out there cute button!

 So here we go!
{1} What is the first thing you notice about the opposite sex? Are you an eyes or a smile person? Maybe another body part?
oh geez, I don't know.  I guess it sounds kinda cheezy but the face as a whole.  I never notice teeth unless they are awful.  Which in France, is quite a bit...  I used to coach junior high volleyball and if the girls got their braces off they would come to me all excited 'anything different???'  me: 'um, new hair?'  whoops!  Sorry ladies!
{2} If a movie was being made about you who would you like to see cast to play you? And would your movie be a comedy, drama, romantic-comedy, action film or a horror movie?

It would be a romatice comedy for sure.  With the craziness that is our life I think if you put music to it at the right places, we already got a movie!  Except my husband.  Ya, not Mr. Romantic.  More like the 'I told you I loved you when I married you.  I'll let you know if it changes' kinda guy.  But hey, he's hot.  And I would have to have Brooke Sheilds play me.  People have always told me that I look like her.  What do you think?


{3} Does your high school yearbook include a senior comment section? If so share what you said about your future goals. Have you met those goals? If you do not have a yearbook just share what your goals where when you were 18 and if you have met them. If you’re brave enough include your Senior Picture!
My goals?  I was a stupid 17 year old girl.  My goals were to go to beauty school and marry my high school sweetheart.  I did neither of them and I am so thankful.  Not that they were bad.  My highschool sweetheard was a nice guy, but my husband is the best man I know.  And I still want to go to beauty school to do hair, but I am sooooooo glad I got my degree instead of beauty school.  Thanks mom and dad!

{4} What latest trend simply baffles you?
Skinny Jeans on boys.  If your boyfriend can wear your pants, there is something wrong.  And MC Hammer pants.  They look like you are wearing a diaper.  Or depends.  They are awful and super popular here.  yuck.


{5} When you walk into a room how do you present yourself? Do you walk in with confidence and command the attention of others or do you slink in and do your best to go unnoticed?
I walk in with confidence.  I don't really command attention, but I will most certainly take it!  I am just very social and will start up a conversation right away or get into one that is already going.  I have always been this way, just ask my mom...

My Life in France ~ Being Married to a Basketeur

Good Morning everyone!  If you haven't entered the giveaway, you can do it now! I will wait for ya! Just go here.  Okay great, thanks!

Today, Friday, I am continuing the series about our life in France.  It is a crazy life, I will be the first to admit it, and it definitely needs installments to fully explain.  Actually, I dont' think I could ever fully explain our craziness!  So just little picture windows is perfect.  

Today I am secretly excited about this little section. hehe  Because, as I am sure most of you are, I am proud of my husband!  So I thought I might write about what it is like to be married to a Basketball Player, or a Basketeur, as the French call it.

This is my husband.  Are you scared yet?  It's okay, he is kinda scary.  He likes it that way.   

His mean mug

When we got married and moved to Brest, France (get get cities with the funniest names!) I had no idea what was in store for me. All I really knew about this life was what I experienced in college, which was just from a fans point of view. Oooohhhh boy is it different.

So.  Awesome things:

~ He is home a lot more than he would be with a 9 to 5 job.

He can take Tae to practice sometimes

There is a game to go to every other weekend

Since we live in France, road trips are never longer than 2 days.

Most all other basketball guys are super cool and laid back

This means late nights and sleeping in, until, of course, Tae started school. No more sleeping in for momma.

~ We are getting to travel the world.

~ My son speaks two languages. Awesome.

~ Lavar is always in tip-top shape.  I think he has 3 percent body fat.

He always gets hacked like this. They rarely call it. Refs here - whole other post!

Not so awesome things:

~ Lavar is always in tip-top shape.  Although I am not heavy, I am not in tip-top shape.  You would think this would motivate me... notsomuch

~A lot of other basketball payers cheat on their wives.  It is a bummer stereotype, but unfortunately true.  Since Lavar and I are the more 'stable' of most bunches, we know things we don't really want to know, ya know?

~ He stays up late (practice is at night) and sleeps in and takes naps during the day.  Don't worry, I asked other players' wives to see if this was normal.  It is. Dang, can't get mad.

~ We are never settled in one spot.  It is kinda fun, but hard to be integrated.  That is why I love you bloggy friends!  I can take you wherever I go!

EDIT: I forgot to mention earlier how much this guy eats.  For breakfast he eats 12 pancakes, big ones, a slice of meat, and 3 eggs.  He eats a big lunch and two dinners.  Yes, two.  This is definitely on the not so awesome list because it is tough to keep up!

A few tidbits about our lifestyle:

Lavar signs contracts for 10 months at a time. We would like to change this and sign for longer, but you gotta take what is out there. 

Therefore, for 2 months out of the year (it has been longer), we don't have jobs.  Lavar is not American and cannot work in the states, and we can't live in the Bahamass because there are no basketball opportunities for him there. 

Each year in about July, we find out where our new location will be.  Lavar leaves first to make sure all is well where we will be, and I usually follow within a month. 

We have lived in Brest, Boulazac, and St Etienne.  Lavar lived in Austria by himself because he got a job a little later than expected and I couldn't fly to go with him because I was pregnant with Eli.

Lavar wasn't able to be there for the birth of our second little boy, Eli, but he was on skype the entire time!!  LOL the nurses said 'well there is a first time for everything!'  Does that confirm our craziness?

So there you have it.  A little window into our life as a Basketeur, a femme de Basketeur, and the little guys who travel the world with us.

Although it isn't the easiest life all the time.  We don't have the same security that others do.  I wouldn't change it for the world.  We are getting to experience another country and culture to the fullest.  We are able to do things together as a family that we would otherwise never be able to afford.  And my husband is living his dream.  How could we ask for more?

I think next week I might talk about living in an intercultural, interracial marriage. It might be a doozy, because our marriage sure is!  (in a good way, of course!)

If you missed last weeks, you can click here.

And thanks for all the love and encouraging comments, I really appreciate it!  Have a great day!

Wee Bit Wednesdays

Good morning, everyone!  Sorry I missed yesterday, my internet was off again.  Husband is going to the store to see if they can fix it as we speak.  He's on top of it because otherwise he can't watch his nba.com, heaven forbid, and I couldn't blog, heaven forbid!

So yesterday the sweet sweet sweet Katie at Love with Katie, shared our love story (like mine and my husbands)  on her blog!  It was so sweet of her to share, and I was so sad that I couldn't link up yesterday because no internet, so I thought I would do it today.  And I was just reading the comments this morning, so beautiful, I was almost in tears.  People are so lovely, nice and supportive, I love it.  So thanks Katie, for sharing and if you guys get a chance, go check it out!

Then Jacqueline at Chez Mukweto (which is French for Mukweto's place, by the way) asked me to guest post and I said biensur! (of course!)  That post is about living in France and is up today!  So gosh, I am all over the place!

Theeeeen, if you didn't notice, I am now over the 100 follower mark!!!!!  Oh my gosh, I am so excited! I want to thank each and every one of you ladies.  It means so much to me to have so many new 'friends' I love it!  Thank you thank you thank you!

Wednesdays I have been doing 'What I wore Wednesdays' and linking up with the fashion momma's out there, but if we're keeping it real, this week I barely got out of my work out clothes.  So I have no pictures to post.  Fail.  So I thought I would link up with Leigh Ashley at her place for Wee bit Wednesday.  I'm a little late, but I'm gonna do it anyway!  So here we go...

{one} have you ever fainted?Never once.  Thought it would be kinda interesting, but nope.

{two} what is your favorite casino game?I don't gamble unless it's with someone else's money. hehe so don't have one cuz no one will give me their money to gamble with. hmph.

{three} do you have a good sense of direction?I think it is ok. Every new city we are in here in France, I do ok. Then we came here, to St. Etienne. It is the most confusing place I have ever been.  Hate driving the the center.

{four} laptop or desktop?laptop. I travel waaaay too much to have a desktop.  But if money wasn't an option, both!

{five} what is your go-to hair style when having a bad hair day?messy bun.  Which happens more often than not, unfortuntately.

{six} do you read the newspaper on a daily basis?No.  Too hard to read in French, I'm not that good yet!  And I would rather read more interesting uplifting things, like your blogs! :)

{seven} do you have a favorite celebrity chef?Paula Deen. Love her. But I am a food network junkie when in the states, so I love quite a few of them.

{eight} what tv show would you like to make a guest appearance on?Friends, hands down.  Love it.  Then maybe big bang theory, hilarious.  But I would tower over those little guys.  Maybe that could be the plot, amazon woman comes to big bang!

{nine} do you have satellite radio in your car?Nope.  I have whatever CD my husband left in there.

{ten} what was the last movie that made you cry?I can't remember.  I don't often cry at movies, but I do occasionally.  Can't remember.  But anythin to do with mother's and children, sob fest.
 

Well thanks for reading along!  I have loved having you again!  Don't forget to enter the giveaway at My Girlish Whims!!